To epidural or not, that is the question, Update pg 15

I am being induced on Thursday after 3 weeks of bedrest for pre-e. I will be 38.5 weeks. They are going with a more aggressive induction of breaking my water and starting pitocin right away vs. a prostaglandin wait and see approach.

I was sort of induced with dd for PIH at 40 weeks 3 days -- my midwife started with vaginal cervadil and my water broke almost immediately. I had such terrible back labor for 12 hours over night that I didn't sleep at all. I had wanted to go med free, but ended up requesting an epi at 6 am, they administered at 8 am, but I was only 6 cm dilated (I started the process at 4). After the epidural, I was able to sleep for 4-5 hours and had a calm, relaxed birth - 8 pushes, no tearing. It was like being at a spa. I only had to have pit for about 15 minutes and didn't feel any of those contractions.

My midwife is out of town. One of her partners, as well as the maternal fetal specialist OB (because I am high risk) are tag teaming my induction. I am scared of the pitocin. I am afraid that I will be limited in my pain management strategies and that this is going to be horrible. Several friends have advised me to get the epidural early, since not having pit is not an option. As I had a successful epi before, I am not as scared of the epi as I am of pit.

What would YOU do?

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If God exists, she's pro-choice

Progressive, socialist natural-minded mom to K (5/30/09) and I (10/26/12)

Comments (173)

I had pit and was able to go without an epi for a while. I did need one after hours and hours of labor since I was worn out, but I'm so glad I tried without. It made it possible for me to get in better positions to help the baby come down. He did get stuck and I did need a c-section. So I'm really glad I waited until I absolutely needed the epi to get it - since without it, I could have got into a better birthing position to open up my pelvis more. They gave me the lowest dose possible of the epi and I wasn't able to feel a thing - not even pee! My right arm ended up numb for 12 hours, as well as my legs, when it got increased for the c-section. I'm glad I waited since there are no what-if's that way.

I was induced for high BP and put on Pit and and Epi from the jump. I was super comfortable, and super numb. Couldn't feel a thing. I was there for about 8 hrs and wasn't dilating. Then, all the sudden I started feeling contractions. Thought that the Epi was wearing off. But in reality, I had dilated 7cms in an hour. If I could feel that thru a powerful Epi, I shudder to think what it would've felt like without it!

I only had to push twice and out she came! She was alert and latched right on. I hope to have an epi this time around as well.

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"Why are you even on the Debate Team? I've never actually seen you debate." MPSmithers

Given that they are going to do an agrressive induction, my guess is you will want teh epidural. I wanted to go natural and lasted about 6 hrs of my 10 hr labor with out the epidural. Once tehy broke my water however I could only last about an hour. I simply decided I would not have teh energy to push if I used it all up controlling the pain.

The epidural gave me a chance to rest, no sleep, but rest. It was teh right decision, but I will go for anopther natural birth if I have another child.

HIPPO - but here's my experience (and I don't tell you this to scare you - only to let you know my experience - particularly with the "guilt" part)

I totally planned on a "natural, drug free labor". Took Bradley Method classes and several other classes aimed at delivering drug free. Was totally gung ho and ready to do it - until I had to be induced. OMG That changed everything.

They induced me at 38 weeks due to elevated liver enzymes and BP throughout the last few months. I never got to PreE officially, but she didn't want to take any chances. Because my dr. knew I wasn't a huge fan of the thought of Pitocin she tried to induce using Cervadil the night before I was scheduled for the Pitocin induction. It did nothing, so in the morning they hooked me up to Pitocin as scheduled at 8am. It was also a pretty agressive induction. I was ok - until they broke my water about 2 1/2 hours later. Prior to that I was still able to walk around and use all the tools they taught me in my classes - walking, breathing, hands and knees, exercise ball, etc... It was manageable...painful, but manageable. For me, when they broke the water - excuse my French, but shit got real. WOW Did Shit Get REAL. The contractions were immediately every 1- 2 minutes and lasted for a minute (if I remember correctly - I was "fuzzy" from the pain). EVERYTHING I learned went out the window immediately - I literally could do nothing but lie in bed curled in the fetal position pulling on the bed rail with all my might with my eyes shut - lol. I fully realize that didn't help matters, but I literally could not bear to do anything else - I tried it all. I really did try.

At one point I decided to try a half dose of a pain med. My body laughed in the face of those meds. They did NOTHING - so I took the other 1/2 dose. Still nothing. In the end, about three hours after they broke my water I decided to go with the epidural. It was the best decision I could have possibly made - but at the time I felt horrible about it.

I wanted the "Natural" thing so badly that I really psyhed myself into thinking I was somehow a failure for using the epidural. I beat myself up for a long time about it until I finally realized the only thing that mattered was that my son and I were healthy. I didn't get to wear some big button that said "I went natural" in real life...no one cared but me, really. (oh and the judgy types who will judge you for every decision you make about birthing and raising your child...but I digress)

Before I got the epidural it was torture. Just terrible. Once I got it, I was able to relax and rest and really, ultimately enjoy the birth of my son. I could still feel things (like I definitely knew when I was in transition, could still feel the need to push and feel the pressure of pushing, could move my own legs, etc.), but it wasn't horribly painful.

I know for me, if I would have just kept going without the epidural, I don't think I would have been able to continue much longer on my own - which may have resulted in a c-section. Just speculation, but it was exhaustingly painful and I don't know how much more I could've taken.

In the end you have to do what's best for you and baby. Good luck to you.